Daniel’s Story Animated Video

Dear Diary, my name is Daniel. Today is my birthday. Dad gave me his medal. He got it when he was a soldier. And my sister Erika gave me this brand new diary. I'm going to draw and write about everything I do.

Today I played soccer with my friends. And helped at our family's store.

Our family is Jewish. On Friday evening, we have the best meal of the week: Shabbat dinner.

"Eloheinu melech ha'olam borei pri hagafen."

My father says the blessing over the wine, and I get to drink some.

It's a new year. Things are starting to change. It's really scary.

A group of people called Nazis took over Germany. They want to rule the world. They hate anyone who isn't like them. Especially Jewish people. Now my friends won't play with me because I'm Jewish.

"Hey! Go away!"

Even my teacher makes fun of me because I'm Jewish.

Mom and Dad always seem worried. And Erika is really scared. I try to remind her of how things used to be.

Things just keep getting worse. There are all sorts of places we can't go. All Jews are required to carry identification cards at all times.

"These cards must be presented..."

Nazis are making new laws against Jews every day.

Have you ever been punished for something you didn't do?

My parents sent me to a new school just for Jews. I miss my old friends, but I'm making new friends too.

Last night I heard shouting outside. Nazis destroyed Jewish homes and stores. Including ours.

"Dad! Dad! Dad! Dad?"

They burned our synagogue. I never saw my father cry before.

It's 1941. The Nazis are still fighting a world war. And they're making Jews sew yellow stars on our clothes so people know we're Jewish. Then they told us we have to leave our home. But no one will tell us where we're going. We aren't allowed to bring many things.

I left my diary behind. I don't feel like drawing anymore. But Erika saved it for me. She's afraid we won't see our home again. I promised her things would go back to the way they were before the Nazis ruined our lives.

The Nazis sent us far from home to a ghetto. A crowded, dirty place, just for Jews. There are fences all around us. We're not allowed to leave. Our apartment is really crowded. And we only get one loaf of bread per week. Mom shares her bread with us. I'm afraid we won't have enough food to stay alive.

Everyone is forced to work here. Even kids. Erika can't even go to school. I know stealing is wrong, but we’re freezing.

Sometimes I think about when my dad was a soldier. He had to be brave. It makes me feel brave too. Even Erika took a pencil for me. She told me I have to keep drawing no matter what.

We've been stuck in this ghetto for three years. I thought things couldn't get worse. The Nazis told us we have to leave again. I heard people say we're going to a concentration camp. I don't know what that is. They say it's worse than the ghetto. I don't know how that could be.

We were stuck in that hot train for three days. We got off the train and they took all our bags away. They took my diary. And they took Mom and Erika away. We are forced to work all the time. We were always hungry and cold. People are dying every day.

I can't sleep. So I keep my diary alive in my head.

We never saw Mom or Erika again. Nazis killed them both. Just because they're Jewish. I still miss them so much.

Later that year, the war finally ended. Soldiers freed us from the camps. Dad and I both managed to survive. But there were so many children who didn’t. Just like Erika.

The Nazis killed more than 1.5 million kids. That's like a whole school disappearing every day for eight years. The Nazis killed grown-ups, too. Millions of Jewish people and many others.

There are still people today who hate Jews just for being Jewish. That's why I still write and draw. That's why I still remember. Remember my story. Remember the children.